Categories

It has never been a more challenging time to run an independent brick-and-mortar bicycle shop, what with decreasing profit margins, a more knowledgeable and demanding clientele, and the impossible situation of trying to compete head-to-head with gargantuan online retailers who not only have everything in stock, but also sell it cheaper. The road ahead is undoubtedly rocky, but there is a path forward — which is a good thing, since every cyclist will need the help of a good bike shop sooner or later.

Adam Hansen is the Energizer of the pro cycling world. With more than 380 days of racing over the 19 past grand tours, he just can't seem to be stopped. CyclingTips roving report David Everette talks with Adam about his persistence and his remarkable energy and efficiency: in addition to being a pro cyclist, Adam makes time for software development, a cycling shoe company, and more.

The active career of a professional cyclist is a relatively short one. While there certainly are some exceptions, most pros retire in their early thirties.

As an athlete, their whole life revolves around the next training session, the next race, the next goal and the next season. Their lives are filled with travel and their social circles tend to consists of other cyclists with the same lifestyle.

And so, being a professional cyclist is so much more than a job. For most, it’s an identity and a way of life. Losing that when retirement comes, can be a very difficult thing and each athlete copes with it differently.

In this miniseries, we talked to four cyclists about their retirement, and what their lives are now. You’ll hear that while some have moved away from cycling and onto to non-cycling related jobs, others are finding retirement quite difficult.

In this first instalment, we chatted with American Phil Gaimon (who last rode for Cannondale) and his self-proclaimed “worst retirement ever.”

Come back later for chats with Swedish rider Emma Johannson and cycling couple Will and Shoshauna Routley.

On the road, pedal-assist eBikes make a certain amount of sense for certain applications. But what about on singletrack, where skill level often develops in tandem with fitness — and where access is ongoing challenge for mountain bikers? For this podcast, editor Neal Rogers spoke with a wide variety of stakeholders, including eMTB manufacturers, mountain-bike racers, and representatives from the International Mountain Bike Association, who find themselves in the middle, torn between widening their base and disenfranchising those who have fought for trail access since the advent of the sport.